Proud of Me

VW walks down the stairs into the kitchen..."you proud of me?"

"Yes? What did you do?"

"I put my peanut down when I went potty." Been working on not spraying the bathroom rug.

"Yeah, good job buddy."

Very proud smile, then a gasp. "I forgot to flush!"

"Uh, oh"

"And wash my hands."

He turns on his toes and runs back to the bathroom.

VW we are so proud of you!

From the Outside Looking In

After dinner tonight and the dishes were not even put away (gasp), we spent some fun family time together.

VW and I built a big tower out of blocks. VW with his angled walls, Mommy adding the foundation to make sure it stands, and DG acts as King Kong climbing and knocking over the tower! Good thing VW can laugh and start building it over again.

DG takes off to his new favorite activity...walking. But of course has a styrofoam sword taller than him in his hands, balancing, turning around, hands in the air laughing with Daddy chasing him so he doesn't lose his balance and fall against the fireplace brick.

I begin to rock VW in my crazy "swing" singing, shaking, and bouncing. VW laughs the whole time and DG comes to join in the fun.

Daddy turns on a fav Zac Brown Band concert and the dancing, singing, and craziness begins (or, um, gets even crazier)! VW once again telling us he wants a guitar with strings on it! DG shaking his bum and VW running in circles!

And all I can do is laugh, that big belly, gonna pee my pants, can't control it, tears in my eyes, LAUGH. 

Unsure if it is the overwhelming stress of always playing catch up these days or the abundant, overflowing joy of having such an amazing family. Not sure if it even matters...all I know is from the outside looking in this is what life is about...God's overflowing, abundant blessing that even when King Kong's stress tries to knock over my tower, I can laugh and find joy in the singing, dancing, and craziness of life. 

From the Inside Out...Life is good today!

You know you are a parent...

when going out on a Saturday night is a trip to the grocery store with your family!

It was DG first time riding in the car cart. VW begs to ride in these every time we go to the store. What fun times to race in the car cart with the cool flames on the side with your little brother!!

Look What I Can Do!

We've been amazed how quickly DG gets around with his amazing all body crawl. Little did we know that after these conversations/observations, DG would decide to walk! He has been climbing stairs since Thanksgiving, using the furniture to get around, and taking that occasional step, but his hands in the air, usually holding something, and his big smile of accomplishment is too precious! He is now doing 50/50 walk/crawl. Let the bumps, crashes, and bruises begin!

Love how VW sees a camera and yells "cheeseburger," we can't say the normal cheese at our house...we are anything but "normal"

PEEK!

DG is having so much fun being mobile. He puts his head down and crawls across the room with his whole body! And boy does he move! We think he looks like Bailey, who we lovingly think walks like the slinky dog! We got some adorable craziness at our house!

He especially enjoys playing in the tunnel chasing his big brother!

What's that Smell?

VW has begun the great boy stage of pretending to burp and whenever he smells anything remotely "strange" we hear:

"What's that smell?"

The other night he is giving me his nigh-nigh hug and asks "what's that smell?"

"I don't know!" I reply.

He proceeds to pretend to spray the air, commenting "we need that spray stuff!"

Oh, buddy!

103 to 99 - Either Way it is Still HOT

Things have been an absolute whirlwind the past couple weeks. I am unsure if I am coming or going, if it is night or day, if I really need the thermometer to tell me one of the boys has a temp or if I just know.


Three days home with DG last week (Mommy 1 day, Daddy 2) with a roller coaster temperature. Daddy was amazing during the day as cuddlier, comforter, and doctor. Mommy cuddled and nursed in the evenings, to finally win the battle and have our little guy back...although it almost took a week!!


Then the following week to the exact day, Daddy and I are getting in bed and we hear the spring of VWs bed. Next we sees his sad eyes peak around the corner and know that it has hit again! Another crazy temp!! VW sips his Tylenol making sure he gets every last drop from the tiny medicine cup and lays between Daddy and I, cuddling yet motionless creating a greater furnace than Mommy!


Another day home with Mommy and lots of dear cuddles and movies. Thank goodness for Nana as she makes the trip up to contribute to the love, cuddles and healing.


Whew! We made this round and are glad to once again be healthy! Always remind myself during these times that it it is best to slow down and enjoy your loved ones and in this house the things you learn from your 3-year-old are priceless!

LOVE

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech
but with actions and in truth. ~ I John 3:18

Splish Splash We Were Taking a Bath

Recently we've decided DG is old enough and stable enough to join his big brother in the bath tub. Boy, we were in for a surprise for all the fun that was in store for us!

VW gets DG laughing and squirts his brother with the colored rubber duckies and plays boat and turtle train. DG takes hold of his cup and doesn't let go.

DG tries to get his Mr. Bubbles bubbles off of his body by grabbing his toes and legs, all the while peaking up at his brother.


Once we are all suds up and scrubbed behind the ears, Mommy pulls DG out and wraps him in his monkey towel, Daddy pulls VW out and wraps him in his tiger towel and we head downstairs to warm up by the fire.

For inquiring minds, we have only had once incident that we had to remove the boys and clean the tub, so they could actually get clean ;-)

Snow Day!!

What do you do when it is snows and your Grandma and Papa are visiting?

You make a train out of the kitchen chairs, 

while Mommy mops the floor.

You watch Daddy from inside save the branch of our 

birch tree that was less than 2 feet from the ground!

You smile, 'cuz Grandma and Papa are here!!

And, of course, you play in the snow!

Papa pulls VW with the shovel, lost our sled!

Papa's Turn!

CRASH!

DG hanging out too!

Our snowman!

Warm up with Papa, playing games!

Reading Papa's fav book:
"Too Much Noise"

Crackers

VW loves crackers, so much so if all he ever ate was crackers he would be completely fine!

You may think that this is why he is so slender, but much to your surprise he does like to eat other things to, like Peanut Butter.

Last week for one meal VW ate 2 helpings of broccoli, 2 helpings of ribs with ketchup, and potatoes.

For his bedtime snack, he devoured 3 different types of crackers (Wheatables, Nilla Wafers, and Graham crackers). And he kept asking for more and more. Finally, I asked him if he was growing.

VW response: Yep, I'm not big enough. I need more, please.

110%

I won't apologize that everything I do, I give a 110%. Or that I know and expect that the result of the relationship, product, contribution, etc. will make a difference that only I could have brought to the table and "it" will be good, if not great! This is who I am, the way God made me, and how I live my life. I shouldn't have to apologize for it!


BUT...


I will apologize for not choosing wisely what I give a 110% to. 


Please forgive me - God, family, and friends - for giving of myself in the wrong order and only what is left. May I be like the women in Proverbs who pursues wisdom in God to determine my proper priorities so I am not destructive but life-giving.

The wise women builds her house, 

but with her hands the foolish one tears her down. 

Proverbs 14:1